Picker motion for looms



1944- LE ROY LAYTON ET AL 2,355,540

PICKER MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed June 4, 19 12 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1944- LEROY LAYTON ET AL 2,355,540

PICKER MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed June 4, 19 .2 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fzwerzr$7-le R0 Lagfin Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE2,355,540 PICKER MOTION FOR LOOMS Le Roy Layton, Lansdowne, and EdwardW.

Shertz, Upper Darby, Pa., assignors to Lansdowne Steel & Iron Company,Morton, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 4, 1942,Serial No. 445,799

11 Claims.

This invention relates to the picker mechanism of looms, and moreparticularly to looms of the wider, heavier types used in the weaving-of broad-loom carpets and wide rugs, etc.

pensive and at the present time replacements are I difficult, if notimpossible, to obtain.

The present invention involves the use of pneumatic cylinders andcomplementary pistons, etc., operable by elastic fluid trapped in oneend of the cylinder, between the cylinder head and the side of thepiston facing said head, at all times during the reciprocation of thepiston within the cylinder.

The trapped elastic fluid is maintained at a predetermined minimumpressure with the piston in, its remotely situated position with respectto the cylinder head, attained as a result of the piston having snappedits associated picker stick into action to. throw the shuttle across theloom. The pressure of the trapped elastic fluid is progressivelyincreased as the piston is reversed in the cylinder and approaches thecylinder head, during the return movement of the picker stick and thepiston to cocked position, ready for the next shuttle-throwing movementof the picker stick, at which time the pressure of the trapped elasticfluid is a maximum.

The construction and operation of the improved picker mechanism will befully disclosed, in detail, hereinafter, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of suflicient of a loom to illustrate theapplication of the present invention thereto;

Fig. 2 is a piping diagram; and I Fig. 3 is an enlarged face view ofpart of the mechanism of Fig. 1, with one of the elastic fluid cylindersshown in longitudinal section.

As previously noted, the invention resides broadly in supplanting theheavy springs commonlyused for operating the picker sticks which throwthe shuttles across the warps of wide carpet looms, i. e., looms makingcarpet or rugs up to 18 feet in width.

These picker springs are usually of the tension type, made of roundspring steel stock about to in diameter, with the coils about 4" inoutside diameter and frequently from six to eight feet in length.

The springs are normally stretched between two picker strap levers I, I,to which the picker straps 2,2 are respectively connected at the upperend of each, while the second end of each picker strap is secured to apicker stick 3, which,

through the usual picker carried thereby, strikes and drives the shuttleout of the shuttle box 4 at one side of the loom, across the loomthrough the open warp shed, into the shuttlebox at the opposite side ofthe loom.

The levers, I, I are normally rocked, alternately, in one direction bythe springs, supra, and in the opposite direction by setting levers 5, 5respectively which engage the strap levers ,I, I, and normally place thepicker spring or springs under tension or compression, as the case maybe, depending upon the picker mechanism of the particular loom involved.

The setting levers 5, 5 are connected to each other by a link 6, and toa crank I by a link 8, through which said levers receive their rockingmotion. As each setting lever, in turn, completes its oscillatory motionin one direction and moves the associated strap lever I therewith, atrigger 9 engages a lug II) on the strap lever I and holds it cockedagainst the tension of the picker spring. As each setting lever 5 rocksin the opposite direction and leaves the associated strap lever I, anarm II on the setting lever 5, having an abutment screw I2, engages thetail I3 of the trigger 9 and releases the strap lever I. The spring thenrocks the strap lever I and jerks the strap 2 which causes the pickerstick 3 to hit the shuttle with a sudden hammer blow of suflicientforce'to drive the shuttle across the loom.

In the present instance, the heavy picker spring is supplanted by a pairof pneumatic units I5, I5, each of which includes an air cylinder ISwith a piston II therein. The piston is con-- nected to one end of a rodI8 which slides through a head I9 in the irmer end of the cylinder IS.The piston rod I8 is connected to a rear cross head 20, by a taperedpoint and socket joint 2|. The rear cross head 20 is connected,

'by rods 22, 22 to a front cross head 23 which is connected by a link 24to the strap lever I.

2 l A There is one-unit II for each picker stick at each side of theloom.

The rods 2:, .22 are slidably mounted in a pair of brackets 26, N, whichare secured to a crow beam 2 of the frame of the loom and which As eachstrap lever l is rocked into cocked position, by rocking of the settinglever I in one direction to its maximum extent, the piston [1, moving inthe cylinder I toward the head 21, progressively increases the pressurein the progressively decreasing space a: to about 190 pounds.

As the setting lever B rocks in the opposite, direction to its maximumextent, the abutment screw l2 in the arm ll of said lever, engages thetail I3 of the latch or trigger 9 and releases said trigger from the lugIII of the strap lever -I. This releases and permits the piston H tomove rapidly toward the head l9, thereby operating the strap lever l tothrow the shuttle in the manner noted above.

Should any of the fluid in the space a: leak around the piston and causethe pressure in the space :2: to drop below the initial,140 pounds persquare inch, an automatic pressure regulating valve in the line 28 willopen the line 2' to the supply line 3 I, whereby the compressor whichfeeds the line ll will build up the pressure again to 140 p. s. i. inthe cylinder I. A check valve 32 in the line 28, between the regulatingvalve Ill and the cylinder l6 holds the fluid in the space :2 againstbacking up in the line It under the high pressure developed in the spacea: when the lever l is cooked.

Assuming that the line 3| carries a pressure greater than the initial140 p. s. i. and less than the developed pressure of 190 p. s. i., it issometimes desirable to develop an initial pressure of greater than 140p. s. i. in starting up the loom at the beginlng of a working day. Thisis done 3 in a cup 31 carried by a bracket 38 which is secured to theloom beam 26. 1

The power applied to the picker sticks by the' piston I! may be varied,if desired, by changing the operating positions of pistons in thecylinders I5 with respect to the heads 21 of said cylinders. It will beobvious that the closer the piston approaches the head 21, the higherthe compression of the fluid trapped between the piston and the head,and consequently the greater the power applied to the picker stick whenthe latch 9 is released. Conversely, the further the piston is carriedaway from the head 21, the lower becomes the compression of the trappedfluid and the lesser is the power applied when the latch is released.With the stroke of the piston being constant and the limits ofreciprocation thereof changed within the cylinder I5, it will be seenthat varying degrees of power may be transmitted to the picker sticks,and the speed and manner of operation may be changed accordingly.

Any suitable means may be provided for changing the operating localityof the piston within the cylinder l5, such, for example, as interchangeof piston rods II of greateror lesser lengths or by threading a longpiston rod and employing looking nuts at opposite sides respectively ofthe cross head 20, through which such long threaded rod wouldpass.

We claim:

1. A picker motion for looms, comprising a closed fluidic systemincluding a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, means fortrapping elastic fluid in one end of said cylinder, means for movingsaid piston toward said end of the cylinder to compress said fluidtherein, means for retaining said piston in its flu d compressingposition, and means for releasing said piston to effect driving of ashuttle across said loom under impetus of said compressed fluid.

2. A picker motion for looms, comprising a closed fluidic systemincluding a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, means fortrapping elastic fluid in one end of said cylinder, an axial extensionon said piston projecting outwardly beyond the opposite end of saidcylinder,

means engagin the outer end of said extension for moving sai pistontoward the first said end of the cylinder to compress said fluidtherein, means for retaining said piston in its fluid compressingposition, and means for releasing said piston to effect driving of ashuttle across said loom under impetus of said compressed fluid.

3. A picker motion for looms, comprising 9. cylinder, a pistonreciprocable in said cylinder, means for trapping elastic fluid in oneend of said cylinder, an axial extension on the piston pro- Jectingthrough and out the opposite end of the cylinder, a cross-head engagedby the outer end of said extension, a second cross-head beyond the flrstsaid end of the cylinder, rods connecting said cross heads, meansconnected to said second cross-head for moving said piston toward theflrst said end of the cylinder to compress said fluid therein, means forretaining said piston in its fluid compressing position, and means forreleasing said piston to effect driving of a shuttle across said loomunder impetus of said compressed fluid.

4. A picker motion for looms, comprising a cylinder, a pistonreciprocable in said cylinder, means for trapping elastic fluid in oneend of said cylinder, an axial extension on the piston projectingthrough and beyond the opposite end of the cylinder, a picker leveroperably connected to the outer end of said extension, means for movingsaid piston toward the first said end of the cylinder to compress saidfluid therein, means engageable with said lever for retaining saidpiston in its fluid compressing position, and means for relasing saidlever to permit said piston to efl'ect driving of a shuttle across saidloom under impetus of said compressed fluid.

5. A picker motion for looms, comprising a cylinder, a pistonreciprocable in said cylinder, means for trapping elastic fluid in oneend of said cylinder, an axial extension on said piston projectingthrough and beyond the opposite end ofsaid cylinder, a picker le'veroperatively connected to the outer end of said extension, means pickerstick.

engageable with said lever for moving said piston toward the first saidend of the cylinder to compress said'fluid therein, means engageablewith said lever for retaining said piston in its fluid compressingposition, and means for releasing said lever to permit said piston toeffect driving of a shuttle across said loom under impetus of saidcompressed fluid.

6. A picker motionfor looms, comprising a picker stick, a cylinder, apiston reciprocable in said cylinder and 'operably connected to saidpicker stick, means for trapping elastic fluid in one end of saidcylinder, means for moving the piston toward said end of said cylinderto compress said fluid, means for retaining said piston in, said fluidcompressing position, and means for releasing said piston to permit thecompressed fluid to efiect driving of the piston toward the opposite endof said cylinder and actuate said picker stick.

7. A picker motion for looms, comprising a picker stick, a picker leverconnected to said picker stick, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable insaid cylinder and operably connected to said picker lever, means fortrappng elastic fluid in one end of said cylinder, means engageable withsaid lever for moving the piston toward said end of said cylinder tocompresssaid fluid, means engageable with said lever for retaining saidpiston in said fluid compressing position, and means for releasing saidlever to permit/the compressed fluid to effect driving of the pistontoward the opposite end of said cylinder and actuate said 8. A pickermotion for looms, comprising a picker stick, a picker lever connectedtosaid picker stick, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinderand operably connected to said picker lever,means for trapping elasticfluid in one end of said cylinder, means engageable with said lever formoving the piston toward said end of said cylinder to compress saidfluid, means engageable with said lever for retaining said pis-,-

ton in said fluid compressing position, and means carried by said leverengageable means for releasing said lever to permit the compressed fluidto.

eflect driving of the piston toward the opposite 'end of said cylinderand actuate said picker stick.

9. A picker motion for looms, comprising a picker stick, a picker lev'erconnected to said stick, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in saidcylinder and operably connected to said picker lever, means for trappingelastic fluid in one end of said cylinder, a constantly oscillatinglever engageable with said picker lever for moving the piston towardsaid end of said cylinder to'comsite end of said cylinder and actuatesaid picker stick. V

10. A picker motion for looms, comprising a picker stick, a picker leverconnected to said picker stick, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable insaid cylinder, a piston rod connected to said pistor. ,nd extendingbeyond one end of said cylinder, across-head on the outer end of saidpiston rod, a second cross-head beyond the opposite end of saidcylinder, tie rods connecting said cross-' heads, a link connecting saidpicker lever to the second said cross-head, means for trapping elasticfluid in the second said end of said cylinder between said end and saidpiston, an oscillating lever engagable with said picker lever for movingthe piston toward said second end of said cylinder to compress saidfluid, 'a latch engageable with said picker lever for retaining saidpiston in said fluid compressing position, and an arm on saidoscillating lever engageable with said latch for releasing said pistonto permit the compressed fluid to eflect driving of the piston towardthe first said end of said cylinder and actuate said picker stick.

11. A picker motion for looms, comprising a picker stick, a cylinder. asupporting bracket for the cylinder at each end thereof, a head closingeach end of the cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, apiston rod extending axially from.

one side of the-piston through and beyond the head at one end of thecylinder, breathing ports in said cylinder at said one end of thecylinder, means for admitting elastic fluid to said cylinder between thehead at the opposite end thereof and said piston, a cross head beyondeach of said brackets, a pair of tie rods slidably mounted in saidbrackets and rigidly connecting said crossheads, means connecting one ofsaid cross-heads, means'connecting one of said cross-heads to the outerend of said piston rod, means connected to the other of said cross-headsfor moving the piston toward said opposite end of said cylinder, tocompress said fluid, means for retaining said piston in said fluidcompressing position, and means for releasing said piston to permit thecompressed fluid to efl'ect driving of the piston toward the oppositeend of said cylinder and actuate said picker stick. i LE ROY LAY'I'ON.

EDWARD W. SHERTZ.

